Tire buffing machine



Jan. 8, 1946. P. E. HAWKINSON 2,392,667

TIRE BUFFING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 j fax/imam j flg ameys Jan. 8, 1946.

P. E. HAWKINSON TIRE BUFFING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnveW/Zar Aiorrwys P. E. HAWKINSON 2,392,667

TIRE BUFFING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 8, 1946.

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Q Q Q I MN Patented Jan. a, 1946 me some Macnnvn Paul E. Bawkinson, Minneapolis, Minm, assignor to Paul E. Hawkinson Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Application June 1, 1944, Serial No. 539,209 1 Claim. (c1. si-sv) This invention relates to a tire bufling or abrading machine and particularly to such a machine constructed and arranged to bull or finish a tire in connection with a retreading operation. 7

It is a common practice to but! or abrade a worn tire to bring the tread and shoulder por- These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully'set forth in the following tions thereof into the desired form and to true up said tread and shoulder portions before a new tread is placed on said tire. bring the worn surface of the tread into slightly convex form and to true it up on the proper transverse are or curve. .This are or curve will vary largely according to the transverse cross section and axial diameter of the tire casing and according to the tire pressure andthe type of tire.

It is an object of this invention to provide a comparatively simple and eflicient machine for supporting and positioning the tire to be treated,

which machine also comprises a tire buillng or abrading wheel which is movable to different desired positions about the tire.

It is a further object ofthe invention to provide a tire bufiing machine comprising a tirecarrying means rotatable about a horizontal axis, the same also being osciilatable about a vertical axis, means for varying the horizontal distance between said horizontal axis and vertical axis, a

tire-bufflng wheel movable toward the tread of the tire carried on said tire-carrying means and also being swingable about a vertical axis to be placed in diilerent positions about the tread of said tire.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a tire treating machine comprising a base, a turntable on said base rotatable about a vertical axis, a standard rising from said tumtable, a slide movable horizontally relative to said standard, a rotatable tire-carrying means carried by said slide, a second slide mounted in said base, a post upstanding from said second slide, a tire bumng wheel mounted on said post and swingable about a vertical axis. and means for moving said second slide to move said bufllng wheel toward and from the tread of a tire carried on said tire-carrying means.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine as set forth in the preceding paragraphs, said tire buiiing wheel having a hood thereabout, a fan and fan casing to the inlet of which said hood is connected, a discharge conduit leading from said fan casing and means for driving said bufling wheel and fan, all mounted for movement about said vertical axis with said builing wheel.

It'is desired to' description, made in accordance with the accompanying drawings in which the reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the different views and in which:

Fig. its a perspective view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, some parts being broken away; i 1

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the parts in diilerent positions from those shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the tire-butting portion of the'machine;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the machine, some parts being broken away and others shown in horizontal section; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the .rnachine showing a diflerent form of tire therein.

Referring to the drawings, a machine is shown comprising a base It. While this base could be variously made, it is shown as generally in the form of a plate and the same has mounted at one end thereof a turntable .I I. Turntable Ii is rotatable about a central vertical axis and is connected to said base by a pivot bolt l2. Turntable Ii is of circular form for most of its extent but has one side projecting somewhat with a rectilinear edge and a bracket I3 is secured to said turntable at said side. Bracket l3 has a flange Ila at its bottom, extending horizontally and overlying turntable I l and is secured to said tumtable by a plurality of bracketsror braces l4, having horizontal lower portions connected to the turntable by headed bolts ii. The upper ends of brackets ll engage the vertically extending portion of bracket I 3 adjacent to its top and are secured thereto by bolts l6. Bracket I: has a slot lib extending horizontally in the vertical portion thereof and a standard It has a flat side engaging the outer flat side of bracket l3 and is connected to said bracket by a headed bolt l9 passing through slot lib. Standard i8 is of rectangular form in horizontal cross section and has a vertically extending strengthening rib lBa at its outer side. The base III has rollers 20 mounted on pins ii at one end and at each side thereof and which are disposed between parallel projections Illa of said base. Adjacent the other end of said base, rollers 23 are provided, mounted on pins or bolts 24 extending transversely through thebifur'cated ends of levers 25.

, pivoted intermediate their ends on a cross shaft or rod .20, mounted in flanges upstanding from Levers 25 are moved downwardly, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the

on a'shaft 53 Shaft 53, at its upper end,'has a square or polygonalin transverse cross section rollers 23 will be raised and base l6 will be allowed to contact the floor or supporting surface. When said free ends of levers 26 are raised, the rollers 23 will be moved downwardly to support base I6. Base I6 is shown as being provided with arcuate recesses |6b to accommodate .the movement of rollers 23.

Mounted onthe. standard "is a crosshead or block 26. Block 28 is movable on standard I6 and can be held in various flxed positions thereon by screws 29. Slide 36 tits in a groove in one side of block 28 and is movable therein in a direction-at right angles to standard l6. Slide 36 has mounted thereon a brake drum 32, the periphery of which is engaged by a brake band 33. Slide 36 also has projecting therefrom and rigidly secured thereto, aspindle and a tire-carrying wheel 34 is rotatably mounted on said spindle. Brake drum 32 and wheel 34are both rotatable on said spindle about a horizontal axis and said parts can be held stationary by the operation of brake band 33. This is accomplished through the moving of a lever 36 which straightens and releases a toggle formed by portion 36a of lever 36 and a link 31. The brake band 33 is movable against the drum 32 by the'tension of a spring 38, the tension of which can be adjusted by a screw 39 secured to one end of said spring and movable in a nut 46 by its end wheel 39a. The slide 36 has an arm 36a projecting from one side and a screw 42 passes through said arm, said screw being provided with an operating handwheel 43.

' Screw 42 passes through a projection 28a of crosshead 28, which acts as a nut. Screw 42 is connected to the arm 3011 so that rotation of handwheel 43 and screw 42 moves slide 36 transversely of the head 28. The parts so far described, including turntable II 'and parts carried thereby, are substantially the same as shown in applicant's prior Patent No. 2,254,526, granted September 2, 1941. To such patent reference is made for a more detailed description of said parts.

Said parts, per se, naturally form no part of the present invention except as they cooperate in a new combination. I

With the structure described and as clearly set forth in said patent, standard I6 may be adjusted to'different positions on bracket l3 and held in the desired fixed position thereon. Crosshead 26 may be moved to and held in the desired position on standard I8. The tire-carrying means 34 can be moved to different positions in a horizontal line by the rotation of wheel 43. It will be seen that the relative position of the center or axis of tire-carrying means 34 and the axis of turntable may be varied in a horizontal direction.

Base III has an end portion llic secured thereto having a recess therein of substantially rectangular form and open at its top in which is disposed a slide 46. Slide 46 is held in place by the bars or guides" secured to the top of the side flanges of portion I60 by the headed bolts 48. Slide 46 carries and has secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by the headed bolts 56, a rack Rack 5| is engaged by a pinion 52 carried which is joumaled in a bracket 54, secured to the base portion l||c by bolts 65. portion which is and over which fits a ratchet lever 56. Ratchet lever 56 will be of the ordinary form, having a pawl 6! which can be set to have the ratchet in neutral or right and left operative positions so that pinion 52 will be moved by swinging lever 66 in one direction or the other. By operation of ratchet lever 66, pinion 62 can thus be rotated and rack 6| and slide 46 be moved away from or toward turntable II. It will be noted that slide 46 moves in the same direction or in a direction parallel to slide 36. A post 66 is carried on slide 46 and upstands therefrom. the same having at its top a flange-56a shown as having a flat top surface. A plate 66 rests on and is sec'ured to flange 560 by headed bolts 56!). Plate 66 is oi. general bicuspid form, having its sides formed by intersecting arcs of substantially the same radius. Plate 66 has formed along one side thereof, uniformly spaced graduations 66a. Mounted upon the top flat surface of plate 66 and 1 resting thereon is a member 6|. Member 6| is then be turned to move slide pivotally connected to plate 66 by a headed pivot bolt 62. Member 6| is swingable about the axis of bolt 62 and carries a pointer 63 which cooperates with graduations 66. An eye-bolt 64 extends vertically through member 6| downwardly at one side of'plate 66 and through a clamping plate 65, said bolt being equipped with nuts 66 below plate 65. A pivoted and headed bolt 61 extends through' the eye of bolt 64 above plate 66, through the sides of the head 66a of a lever 66, which projects outwardly from member 6|. The surface or peripheryof head 6641 about bolts 61 will be eccentric so that by swinging lever 66, plate 66 and member 6| can be clamped together. By swinging lever 66 upwardly member 6| can be released and can then be swung about the axis of bolt 62. Member 6| has mounted thereon a bracket or casing 16 which carries a. motor II, preferably of the electric type, which motor has secured to its driving or armature shaft, a pulley 12 over which runs a pair of belts I3, also running over a pulley I4 secured to a shaft 15. Shaft 15 has secured thereto a builing or abrading wheel I6. Wheel I6 is surrounded, for most of its extent, by hood I6 which commlmicat'es with the intake side of a fan casing I6 in which is disposed a fan 8|]. Fan 66 is driven by the shaft of motor II and its casing I6 is provided with a dis charge conduit 8| which may extend to any desired point, as to a point outside the room in which the machine is being used. Shaft I5 is journaled in a bracket 62 secured by bolts 63 to theupstanding side 6|a of member 6|. A switch box 64 is shown containing a suitable switch for motor I| operable by handle 85 projecting through a slot or opening of box 64.

In operation, when a tire casing is to be treated it will be applied to the carryin wheel 34, which wheel is easily removable from the machine as set forth in said prior patent. Said wheel will then be placed on the machine as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, and will be held thereon by suitable means, as also disclosed in said patent. During the bufling operation on the tire casing the latter will be held in inflated condition by the use of a properly air-charged inner tube. .The crosshead 26 will be vertically adjusted on standard I6 so that the axis of the tire-carrying wheel 34 will be slightly below the horizontal plane intersecting the axis of bufling wheel I6. The wheel 43 will 36 on tire-carrying wheel 34 to the desired position relatively to the axis of turntable so that 70 when the turntable and tire are oscillated, the proper convex surface tire is indicated by T in the different views. The switch 85 will be moved to start motor II and bufilng wheel I6 and fan 80 will thus be driven. The buffing wheel 16 is driven so that it rotates counterclockwise as seen in Fig. 3. The member 6| will be swung to bring the wheel to the desired position for operating on the desired portion of the tire. When the tread of the tire is to be bufied or abraded, wheel 16 will be in the position shown in Fig. 5. The tire T will then be oscillated about the axis of turntable II and the proper are or transverse curvature will be given to the tread. It will be seen that the relative position of the center of the tire and the vertical axis of turntable II will determine this arc or curvature of the tread. If it is desired to true up the sides of the shoulders TI on the casing, the wheel 16 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 2. The sides of the shoulders can thus be finished either in a flat annular surface or an arcuate surface as desired. The tire could be slightly swung about the axis or turntable H to give an arcuate finish. It is sometimes desired to true up and shape up the shoulders both before and after the new tread has been applied. The operator will be guided in positioning member BI and wheel 16 carried thereby by the graduation 6041 with which pointer 63 can be aligned. It will thus be seen tires of various types and sizes can be trued up to the desired shape or form. The standard 18 will be adjusted on plate l3 to accommodate tires of difierent types and sizes. As above stated, the arc to which the surface is finished can be determined by the positioning of the tire or its axis relative to the axis of turntable II. As shown in Fig. 6, the axis of turntable II is substantially coincident with the axis of the semicircle forming the tire curvature. The tire could thus be finished in a true are as shown in Fig. 6. Some extremely large tires used on heavy duty, road and other machines, are so finished. The material which is abraded from the tire will be drawn into hood 18 by fan 80, will pass through the fan casing 19 and be discharged through the discharge conduit 8|. This material is mostly in the form of fine dust, so that instead of having a great cloud or mass of dust in the room, the dust and dirt are all dischaged so that the atmosphere in the room is kept clean. As stated, the base In can be moved on its rollers to the desired place in the shop From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a novel and comparatively simple and highly emcient machine for acting on, abrading or bufling tire casings. The buffing wheel 16 and the tire-carrying means are all mounted on one base and are so arranged that they can readily be moved to position to secure the desired result on the tire casing. The treads of the casings can be finished to the desired shape. The treads of various makes and types of tires vary greatly in their shape or contour. The tire can be finished across the tread and around the sides and all of these parts trued up as desired, whether the tread and sides are in one are or in different lines of arcs. The machine has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and and can be arranged to rest on the floor in a stationary position by operation of levers 25. As briefly described, and as fully set forth in said patent, the tire T can be held in stationary position by application of the brake band 83.

found to be very successful and efllcient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangments and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of applicant's invention, which, generally stated, consists in a machine such as shown and described, having the objects above set forth and defined in the appended claim.

I claim:

A machine of the class described having in combination, a base, a support on said base rotatable about a vertical axis, a standard carried by said support, means for carrying a tire casing rotatable about a horizontal axis carried by said standard, means for moving said last mentioned means to vary the distance between said horizontal axis and said vertical axis, a slide mounted on said base, means for moving said slide toward and from said vertical axis and substantially parallel to the movement of said first mentioned means, a. post carried by said slide and upstanding therefrom, a plate carried at the top of said post, a support mounted on said plate and swingable about a vertical axis eccentric to the axis of said post, a motor mounted on said support, a buffing wheel on said support driven by said motor, a fan on said support driven by said motor, a casing surrounding said fan and having a portion largely surrounding said wheel, a conduit leading from said casing, means for swinging said support about said second vertical axis to position said wheel about the tread and shoulders of said casing and means for holding said support and parts carried thereby in stationary position.

PAUL E. HAWKENSON. 

